Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
The Bible tells the story of God’s plan to save human beings from sin and bring them to eternal life.
The history of that saving plan as told through the Scriptures is called salvation history. Some people
divide the Bible’s account of salvation history into eight major periods. Here is a brief description
of those periods.
Primeval History
The Bible begins with figurative (also called symbolic or mythic) accounts about how God created
everything that exists. These are sometimes called “primeval” stories, meaning they are stories of things
that happened before recorded history. The Creation accounts reveal that God’s creation was good,
ordered, and harmonious, without sin or human death. The story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience
teaches us that the sin of our first parents injured their relationship with God and with each other. This
Original Sin is passed on to all human beings and makes it difficult for us to choose the good and to
choose God. The stories of Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel teach us that sin
spreads and that without God’s help, sin leads to death and destruction. But despite the death and
destruction, God has mercy on his creatures and begins a process of intervention to save us.
of Israel and Judah worship foreign gods and allow injustice in the kingdom. So God calls prophets to tell
the people to obey their Covenant with God. Prophets like Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah call the people to
stop worshipping idols, to practice justice, to worship God with integrity, and to care for people in need.
The sayings of the “writing prophets” are collected and become part of the Jewish Scriptures.
Several kings in Judah—particularly Hezekiah and Josiah—attempt religious reform and strive to
end the worship of indigenous gods and goddesses, tearing down the high places and sacred groves
where they are worshipped. It is likely that a significant portion of the Jewish Scriptures—the books
Deuteronomy through Second Kings—are initially collected, written, and edited during their reigns.
follow Jesus and support his ministry. Jesus shows his disciples that salvation comes through faith and a
change of heart, not through violence and political power.
When Jesus is killed by the Romans—at the urging of the Jewish leaders—his followers think all is
lost. Instead after three days God raises Jesus from the dead! Christ’s Resurrection affirms that Jesus is
the Son of God, affirms that everything he taught is true, and affirms that through Christ sin and death are
conquered forever. All the baptized who put their faith in Jesus Christ will share in his Resurrection. God’s
original plan for creation is now brought full circle as we anticipate the fullness of the Kingdom of God in
which perfect goodness, harmony, love, and joy will be present for all eternity.
Patriarchs
x Abraham and Sarah
x Isaac and Rebekah
x Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
x Joseph and his brothers
x Egypt and the Exodus
x Moses
x Pharaoh
x Miriam and Aaron